Bad habits you should kick to ensure you skin remains happy and healthy!
The skin is the body’s largest organ, performing a variety of essential functions, such as protecting vital organs; bones; ligaments; nerves and muscles. It’s important our skin is kept healthy - by doing so, we need to be mindful of our what our skin needs, and particularly what it doesn’t! To ensure your skin remains happy and healthy, beware of these 5, easily avoidable, skincare habits:
1. Going to bed with your makeup on (Yes - we’re all guilty of it!)
After a long and straining day, it’s easy to get home and go straight to bed, without thinking to wash off the day’s makeup - it happens to the best of us! However, leaving your makeup on overnight can expedite the ageing process, cause pore blockage and make the skin’s complexion appear more dull and less vibrant.
In the absence of proper, consistent cleansing, oils and dead skin cells on the outermost layers of the skin are pressed up against the pillow all night, diminishing the natural turnover of the dull epidermal. Renowned dermatologist Dr Chiu states "Dirt and makeup trapped against your skin cause environmentally-induced oxidative damage", emphasising the premature appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Establishing a good skincare routine, will brighten the skins appearance and minimise the need for full faced-makeup regimes!
Additionally, leaving the makeup on overnight increases the risk of pore blockages and pimples. Throughout the day, makeup mixes with pollutants from exposure to the environment. These by-products can attract acne-causing bacteria and trap the harmful pollutants, causing blackheads and pore cloggage.
2. Not drinking enough water (That’s right - go and grab that glass now!)
Water ensures your body is hydrated and refreshed - assisting in the maintenance of the skin’s elasticity. Those who stay hydrated have a decreased risk of suffering from scars, wrinkles, and fine lines. Staying hydrated helps the body flush out any harmful toxins, improving the skin’s complexion for healthy, glowing, and hydrated skin. It is recommended the average adult drinks 1-2 litres daily, of which equates to 8 glasses.
Staying properly hydrated has been proven to minimise the effects of bacterial acne, as water helps to remove toxins and bacteria on the skin, in turn reducing the potential for pore-clogging in the process. Ensuring the body maintains properly hydrated allows the skin to maintain healthy skin cell rejuvenation and collagen production. This helps with acne healing and the reduction of inflammation from acne pimples and acne scarring on the skin…So drink up!
3. Picking at the skin (Hands up and step away from the mirror!)
It’s hard to resist popping that one irritating pimple, however, attempting to pop a pimple that's not ready to be opened risks exposing the inner layers of your skin to bacteria and other irritants/pollutants. This can increase the time it takes for the skin to heal and can lead to the development of other pimples. Long term, picking at the skin can even cause permanent scarring on the face. So next time you want to squeeze that bump…beware!
There are certain types of blemishes that should never be picked at or popped. They include boils, cystic acne, and pimples deep under the surface of your skin.
However, if the pimple is on the surface of the skin and remains persistent and irritating, there are safe ways to remove the pus without risking infection. These include sterilising the hands, instead of trying to push the bacteria and pus out of it, pull the skin taut so that the layers of skin drain the pimple for you. This keeps you from pushing bacteria back down into your skin. The area around the pimple can be cleansed with natural drying agents, such as witch hazel. Remember to never directly apply makeup over the exposed area and give it time to heal.
4. Not washing your brushes and beauty blenders (Its ok we all forget!)
Even the most effective skincare routines can be rendered counterproductive if the makeup is being applied with dirty utensils. Makeup brushes that are in daily use can accumulate sebum, impurities, pollution, dust, product build-up and dead skin cells that can include harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, and E. Coli. It is important to wash your makeup brushes weekly to prevent any bacterial and fungal build up that can lead to an infection on in skin.
Washing your makeup brushes is not only beneficial for your skin’s wellbeing, it also aids in ensuring a flawless makeup application. To wash your brushes, avoid fully submerging the brush in water, as this could breakdown the glue holding the handle and bristles together. Instead, run the brush tip under lukewarm water. Apply a gentle cleanser to the palm of the hand. Using circular motions, rub the tip of the brush into the cleanser gently, rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. Repeat with all brushes and leave to dry overnight. Although the process is not always enjoyable, washing your brushes is essential to maintain your skin’s wellbeing.
5. Not applying SPF daily (Sun safety first!)
The skin protects your body’s insides. Sometimes, even the protector needs protecting. Applying SPF daily protects against harmful UV rays from penetrating the skin, of which can cause fine lines, premature ageing, discolouration, sunspots, and skin cancer.
Ultra Violet light damages the skin and its underlying connective tissue. Sunscreen ingredients, including minerals such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, block and scatter the rays before they penetrate the skin, minimising the effects of the UV. For everyday use, sunscreen with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 60 or higher ensures ultimate protection against the sun.
Only a minimal amount is required for protection, apply a dime size amount the fingertips and massage into the face using circular motions. It’s best to apply the sunscreen before the makeup application process. This can also act as a primer/base that hydrates the skin and assists in a flawless makeup application!
It’s easy to fall into some bad skincare habits, as life can be extremely busy and unpredictable. However, by avoiding these 5 “skincare bewares”, you can ensure your skin remains happy and healthy every day. Olivolio prioritises your skin’s wellbeing, with a wide range of organic donkey milk skincare products that cleanse and hydrate—helping you to kick any bad skincare habits! Click here to shop now.